FIRST READING:
Moses, therefore, said to Joshua,
“Pick out certain men,
and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle.
I will be standing on top of the hill
with the staff of God in my hand.”
So Joshua did as Moses told him:
he engaged Amalek in battle
after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur.
As long as Moses kept his hands raised up,
Israel had the better of the fight,
but when he let his hands rest,
Amalek had the better of the fight.
Moses’hands, however, grew tired;
so they put a rock in place for him to sit on.
Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands,
one on one side and one on the other,
so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people
with the edge of the sword. EX 17:8-13
GOSPEL:
Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.’”
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” GospelLK 18:1-8
HOMILY:
Moses would not be able to pray without ceasing for his nation on his own
And so we neither
We need ask others for prayers for us
Even more
We need to pray together
It would not work if Moses would be praying on one hill
While Aron and Hur on the other.
I think that it is hurting families that in the one house kids don’t pray together with their parents and spouses pray separately.
What good would be of Aaron and Hur helping Moses from a distance???
Although from outside what Aaron and Hur did didn’t seem to be very important ,
However Moses could not continue his intersession without their help.
And so in community :
I cannot do to much without your help.
our support is not just luxury,
It’s not a sign of our graciousness.
We are obliged as Aaron and Hur together build up God’s Kindgom,
To lead this parish
It’s not even about helping in my free time
No
It’s about giving from what is important for me.
All of us are responsible for wellbeing and success of mission of this parish
Now, time for poor widow!
Scripture is that widow who keeps after us, provoking us in dialog with our reason so that we might stay continually alert in our prayer
Scripture is that twin support of Aron and Hur
Moses who stretches his hands and Israel wins battle
It’s an image of Christ who stretched out his hands once for all
So we can always win the battle
Do we want to fight???
Jesus doesn’t give us quick fix..
This is why he says: “Pray always without being weary”
But,
What is our, yours experience?
How not to be weary?
Don’t we get tired time to time?
Don’t we lose hope?
Do we really believe that our prayers will be answered?
Well, quite often I will risk saying no…
Why?
Because if I would believe that God really hears my cause, my pleading,
that I’m important to him,
Then
Then what?
Then I would be praising him because he is already doing something great
Prove?
Do we praise God in suffering? In Pain?
Of course not
How to praise God when tragedy happens???
I don’t praise God for suffering that happens
No!
I praise him because he his good and a loving and amazing God
And he is bigger that what happens here
And I believe, I have confidence,
I’m sure that he is doing something amazing already in my life
But, whoa, as St. Paul says, now we see through the cover
There, in heaven we will see clearly!!!
vessel4him 